Letter: A bad deal for all

Sunday, September 28, 2008 3:04 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

A bad deal for all

My husband and I live in the area of the proposed forcible annexation, and like everyone in this area, we are outraged at the proposed taxation without representation for services we do not need or want. We are fighting this un-American process every step of the way.

But current city residents need to know that their taxes will almost certainly increase if this annexation goes through. If I were a city resident, I would also fight this annexation tooth and nail. I would ask why the city is moving forward with an annexation that will result in little or no profit, especially given the economic situation. City residents should want to know how this will affect their property tax rates, especially since the city's own report used a tax rate in their estimations that is higher than the present rate.

Doesn't this guarantee that the city's property tax rate must increase to make this plan work? When the tax rate hike in the report was pointed out to the city, the convenient explanation was that this is a preliminary report and would be corrected. But if the report is figured with the current tax rate, it leaves the annexation at a minus amount of annual profit, and this does not include start-up fees for services the city must provide.

If you are a county resident not in the current proposed annexation, take a look at the city's plans for future annexations and see when your turn is coming. Salisbury is out of control. Also, country residents should be wondering how the county will deal with a projected $200,000-plus annual shortfall from lost sales tax revenue. Won't they have to increase your taxes?

These questions need to be answered. If this annexation goes through, Salisbury and Rowan residents' taxes will surely go up.

— Dink and Tamra Safriet

Salisbury